Brooklyn Letters IconBrooklyn Letters

1139 Prospect Avenue, Brooklyn

4.9 56 reviews

  • Avatar Emily Matles ★★★★★ a week ago
    We would highly recommend Ally! Our son always asks about her, so very thankful to Brooklyn Letters for introducing us.
    ~ Emily, mom of Brooklyn 2 year old
  • Avatar Natalie Levon ★★★★★ 4 months ago
    Nicole has been an amazing therapist!! She played a tremendous role in our daughter’s speech progress and overall development. She has come such a long way and we are so happy with the therapy she received!
  • Avatar T Ainsley ★★★★★ 5 months ago
    I cannot express how grateful and rewarding my experience with Brooklyn Letters has been. Her tutor Ms. Daria is so knowledgeable, amazing, kind and awesome. My daughter has made so much progress in Literacy and Math and it's all … More thanks to Ms. Daria. I know my daughter is sad that she can no longer work with Ms. Daria, as she looked forward to their sessions every week. Thank you again!
  • Avatar Jackie Vasquez ★★★★★ 5 months ago
    Excellent services, caring therapists.
  • Avatar Lil Amatore ★★★★★ 8 months ago
    Christina was absolutely wonderful. She went out of her way to win my son over and it worked. He looked forward to her visits and his speech improved so much under her care. She was super flexible and it’s clear she truly cares. We adore … More Christina and we’re going to miss her. Almost sad he improved so much! She’s simply amazing and we can’t say enough how great she is. I would recommend her services to anyone and everyone, without hesitation. Thank you so much for connecting us with her!
  • Avatar Colin Peters ★★★★★ 6 months ago
    We could not be happier with the services Valerie provided! She is very thoughtful and knowledgeable and provided significant guidance to support our daughter's speech development outside of our scheduled sessions. She established … More a great working relationship with her, and she will definitely be missed! Your business model is amazing and it was an absolute pleasure working with Valerie. I've referred your organization and Valerie to the Executive Director of our daughter's school and friends/colleagues who are in need of speech therapy services.
  • Avatar Heather Liljengren ★★★★★ a year ago
    We cannot say enough good things about Effie, the ASL teacher, who was so engaged and effective with our 2 year old daughter from the very first session! Effie gladly included our whole family in the sessions! Her expertise and fantastic … More personality gave our daughter a way to communicate that she was so desperately seeking. The coordinators at Brooklyn Letters were so helpful and communicative…I would highly recommend their services!
  • Avatar Chris duke Fields ★★★★★ a month ago
    The company is great with outstanding customer service. They keep my horses protected. I have recommended them to other horses trainers as well that are going to get service early next year. Very professional an honest too. Respectfully … More submitted Christopher
  • Avatar Nikhil Jaisinghani ★★★★★ 5 months ago
    Ron and Ken did a fantastic job with our security system today. Installed everything very quick. Both of them were very polite and asked us throughout if the installation met our needs. Simply fantastic!
  • Avatar Linda Parsley ★★★★★ 6 months ago
    I called Cornerstone Protection to get a Security system at a relatives out of state property, within a week it was installed! The installers worked with the client to help understand her new system and she was happy! Our relative said … More they were courteous, professional and patient! I highly recommend Cornerstone Protection for all of your security needs!
  • Avatar Amanda Clay Mackin ★★★★★ 5 months ago
    Had blink cameras; Car was broken into multiple times so I called CornerStone & they were able to install multiple cameras very quickly & for a reasonable price. I am so happy with the app & getting alerts that are not superfluous, … More like they were with Blink. Highly recommend CornerStone & the tech Ronnie.
  • Avatar Pete Peters ★★★★★ 4 months ago
    Ron and Ken are great guys to work with.
    Both were very knowledgeable and got our system back up and running.
    Thanks to both for a job well done...
  • Avatar Brigid Bower ★★★★★ 11 months ago
    Samantha Dalmas was fantastic! We saw her for a feeding therapy evaluation and while she doesn’t think my daughter needs more feeding therapy sessions at this time, but she gave me lots of tips to try. If my daughter's doctors want … More to see more progress at her next appointment, I wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to Samantha again.
  • Avatar Larry Barton ★★★★★ a year ago
    Amazing assistance provided by Shannon today on my security system. I’m so grateful for your prompt, efficient, professional, and courteous service. Put me down as a customer for life!
  • Avatar Megan Haller ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    One of the most painless experiences I've had. They came on time and was over the moon professional with still keeping a level of personability to it. The gentleman also went out of his way to say that my husband and Mines business … More was appreciated. Which is actually rare to be appreciated by such a great company. So thank you and we look forward to continuing services with this company.
  • Avatar Megan Magsam ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    I am so happy we decided to go with cornerstone. They were quick and efficient. Shannon and the installer we very friendly. We got a lot of equipment and it was still within our budget. 10/10 would definitely recommend! Thank you
  • Avatar Collins Youngblood ★★★★★ a year ago
    Love the customer service and Shanon and his team go above and beyond for my restaurant. Couldn't of asked for a better security system and level of service that his team provides.
  • Avatar kanu patel ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    I have been using Cornerstone Protection service for over 5 years and I'm really happy with the service and state-of-the-art equipments and it's futures are so much in advance and friendly, I highly recommend Cornerstone Protection … More Service any and all business that need a security protection days and nights specially after business hours(Cornerstone Protection is perfect solution for your business). Owner of Cornerstone Protection is proactive with their customers and their equipments. Good experienced with Cornerstone Protection!!!
    Kanu Patel
  • Avatar Liz Jones ★★★★ 2 years ago
    We had a very positive experience with Alissa as a tutor for our pod of 5th grade boys from January - June 2020. She cared a lot about the boys and worked hard to create meaningful activities for them. The pod experience was invaluable … More for all of our families during a difficult year and we were so grateful to have found this partnership! We also want to appreciate Craig for helping to match us with a tutor on very short notice after we had cycled through a few folks who were not able to see the commitment through. Thanks for sticking with us!
  • Avatar S CL ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    Dusty was the exact person we needed to help our child finish out the school year. So grateful to him for the way he steadily encouraged her and helped her stay on track and organized. He is flexible, responsive to our needs/schedule as … More a family, and a delight to be with. We are also thankful that Craig at Themba Tutors really "gets it" and partnered us with such a wonderful tutor who was a great fit for our girl.
  • Avatar Nicole May ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    My child worked with Gillian D virtually for math enrichment. She is an excellent teacher. She took time to understand my child's specific learning style and provided tools that would be engaging. She was kind and empathetic- really … More made it her goal to connect with my child and build trust and rapport. My child started the school year with confidence and without the typically "brain-drain" that occurs over the summer, thanks to Gillian.
  • Avatar Gillian Davidoff ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    I am going into my second year as a Themba tutor. I have met so many great individuals while working for this company. Craig and the rest of the Themba team do such an excellent job picking and choosing Themba tutors that suit each client's … More individual needs! I look forward to meeting new tutors and clients in the 2021-2022 school year!
  • Avatar carolina luttmann ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    Our son started in a new high school, 100% remote, and was really struggling with Latin and Physics. I found Themba Tudors online and had an initial call with Craig, who was very knowledgeable, responsive, and found 2 amazing tutors for … More us. Both the Latin and the physics tutors were fantastic, connected with my son really well and helped him go from 'failing' grade to 'honors'! I will for sure continue using (and recommending!) Themba Tutors. Thank you, C, K, and W!
  • Avatar Eric Fingerman ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    Brian is a fantastic executive functioning coach. Super helpful, flexible with hours, and tailored the experience to our needs.
  • Avatar Susan Wong ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    Giulia Mercuri is a great Italian tutor! She was very responsive and accessible. Giulia put a ton of effort into preparing for each session and really helped our son with test preparation and projects. We are grateful that she was able … More to help, especially since our son did not receive any live teaching during COVID. We are happy that she was referred to us!
  • Avatar Christine Gennetti ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    As an adult student diagnosed with a learning disability during grad school, I knew I needed help dealing with my Master's program's demanding workload. I was seriously considering dropping out when I was referred to Themba Tutors. … More I was paired up with a wonderful tutor, Julie, who was a total lifesaver. I learned many techniques that I can utilize in the future as I embark on the next phase of my career.
    I can wholeheartedly say after working with Themba for two years that I would not have finished my program without this organization. And I am so thankful I selected them.
  • Avatar Fabiola FITZPATRICK ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    We were introduced to a wonderful tutor: Mcedwyn. He and our son, a freshman in college, worked well together. As a result, our son’s grades significantly improved. The tutor taught our son subject content and various methods to effectively … More study for quizzes and exams. Our son was also taught time management and organization. My son’s experience with the tutor made the first year of college a less intimidating experience.
  • Avatar Jude Eugene ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    We have been with our tutor, Cailin Schiller, for two years, from 5th - 7th grade. She started as an executive functioning tutor with my daughter. From the start, she demonstrated a depth of expertise and a selective use of techniques skillfully … More adapted to my daughter’s ADHD and Math disability. Cailin made Math accessible and understandable to her in a way that even her teachers had not been able to do. She differentiated reading, writing and math tasks and assignments to tailor them to my daughter’s unique learning differences. Not only did it have an effect on her grades and her work efficiency, but she finally could do her work with less anxiety. Even my daughter’s teachers used Cailin’s guidance to modify their work with her. But most importantly, she became my daughter’s favorite resource. I can’t say how invaluable Cailin has been to my daughter’s progress and well-being. I’d recommend her a million times over. She is a gem.
  • Avatar Janice Eidus ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    Victoria is a superb tutor. She helped my high school age daughter with her writing. Victoria's skills as a tutor, as well as her sense of humor and her engaging personality went a long way with my daughter.
  • A Google User ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    I'm so glad we were referred to Themba Tutors. After a great initial conversation to learn our needs, we were connected with an excellent tutor, Felicia, who is helping our high school daughter learn better organizational and executive … More skills. Highly recommended.
  • Avatar Fara Jones ★★★★★ 5 years ago
    Themba Tutors provided a leaning specialist that was a perfect fit for my daughter. I told them what we were looking for and they delivered. Our tutor is responsive and flexible and makes it easy for my daughter to reach out to her own … More her own, which gives her an added sense of responsibility over her learning. As a therapist myself, I now regularly recommend Themba to my patients. A much needed and well provided service to the community!!
  • Avatar Frances Simpson ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them!
  • Avatar Mary Jean Babic ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    I'm so glad we were referred to Themba Tutors. After a great initial conversation to learn our needs, we were connected with an excellent tutor, Felicia, who is helping our high school daughter learn better organizational and executive … More skills. Highly recommended.
  • Avatar Nina Herman ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    We had a wonderful experience with our tutor Micaela. She helped our son not only academically but at every level. We will be forever grateful to have her in our lives.
  • Avatar Frances ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them!
  • Avatar Michael Birnbaum ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    Paul Smith at Themba has been an exceptional tutor for my son, both in terms of teaching the subject matter and teaching how best to approach the process of learning math and executing assignments. We feel very fortunate to be working with … More Paul.
  • Avatar Monica Alzate ★★★★★ 5 years ago
    We were very lucky to have found Edwouine Swift, my son's therapist through Themba Tutors. Thomas is 12 years old, and it is extremely difficult to get him to write. Edwouine just works her magic with him, he adores her and is so … More eager to follow her guidance. I have no doubt she will be a positive driving force in his academic future.

NYC 9TH GRADE TRANSITION SUPPORT | ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS FOR HIGH SCHOOL

1:1 Academic Support For Students With Experts Help

NYC 9th Grade Transition Support | Academic Systems

9th grade transition planning support NYC requires more than general tutoring. We provide structured, in-home academic support across Manhattan and Brooklyn, helping high school students manage the shift into demanding secondary education environments where independence and performance consistency are expected.

This school year, 9th graders must adapt quickly to new expectations, and our system ensures each child is equipped to handle this critical next step.

9th grade support focuses on building the systems required to manage workload, meet deadlines, and execute across multiple subjects simultaneously. Families often pair this service with NYC high school tutoring when students need both transition systems and subject-specific academic support, especially when preparing for future college application processes and long-term academic success.

High School Transition Planning and School Expectations

The transition from middle school to high school is one of the most significant academic inflection points in NYC school systems. Students move from:

  • One or two primary teachers → 5–7 subject teachers
  • Guided structure → full academic independence
  • Short-term assignments → long-term, overlapping deadlines
  • Light workload → sustained daily output

 

When performance drops at this stage, it is rarely about ability. It is about missing systems. At Themba Tutors, we build the academic infrastructure required for students to execute successfully in high school and prepare for graduation, college, and eventual adulthood.

Why 9th Grade Is a High-Risk Academic Transition

The transition into 9th grade introduces a level of workload and independence that exceeds most students’ existing academic systems. Many NYC students enter strong high schools—from Manhattan private schools to Brooklyn public honors programs—without the systems needed to manage:

 

  • Multiple syllabi
  • Long-term assignments
  • Increased reading and writing volume
  • Independent test preparation

 

This creates a predictable pattern:

 

  • Work begins to pile up
  • Deadlines are missed
  • Stress increases
  • Performance becomes inconsistent

 

Many NYC families seek academic support within the first semester of 9th grade when this gap becomes visible.

The “Smart but Overwhelmed” Freshman Pattern

Strong students often struggle in 9th grade because execution systems have not yet scaled to match academic demands. This often looks like:

 

  • Homework taking hours each night
  • Difficulty starting assignments (task initiation breakdown)
  • Incomplete or rushed work
  • Strong understanding in class but weak grades
  • Parent stepping in to manage daily workload

 

In competitive NYC schools, performance is not based on understanding alone. It depends on execution consistency. This is where most students break down.

NYC 9th Grade Transition Support

When Families Typically Seek 9th Grade Support

Families seek 9th grade support when academic independence expectations exceed a student’s current systems. Common triggers include:

 

  • First report card showing unexpected drops
  • Teacher feedback about missing or late work
  • Increasing household stress around schoolwork
  • Student spending excessive time on homework
  • Difficulty managing multiple deadlines

 

Many families begin searching after realizing their student cannot sustain performance independently.

The Transition Academy Model: What We Build

9th grade transition support installs structured academic systems that allow students to manage workload, meet deadlines, and maintain consistent performance. We do not treat organization as a separate service. We build it directly into academic work. Our system includes:

 

Academic Infrastructure Setup

  • Binder and digital file systems
  • Assignment tracking frameworks
  • Subject-specific organization

 

Weekly Execution Systems

  • Preview/review routines
  • Workload mapping across subjects
  • Deadline management

 

Task Breakdown Systems

  • Converting large assignments into actionable steps
  • Reducing avoidance and delay
  • Increasing completion rates

 

Performance Stabilization

  • Consistent homework completion
  • Reliable test preparation
  • Reduced last-minute crisis cycles

 

These systems are implemented directly within the student’s real coursework. This systems-based approach overlaps naturally with our academic support system NYC framework, which strengthens workload management across all major subjects.

      TESTIMONIALS

Everything is still going well with Janeese. She keeps up with the Math curriculum at Franklin’s school while also continuing to help with his more basic Math skills that need constant shoring up. She keeps him engaged and makes it fun, so he’s never reluctant to have a tutoring session with Janeese, which is amazing!

 

-Michelle C. 

Themba is the place to go if you are looking for quality, professional tutoring with a true understanding of how to engage learners with unique learning profiles. Learning disabilities are real. Some are more extreme than others. No two are exactly the same. Finding an organization that understands the necessary framework to help learners who process information along non-standard lines can be challenging. Look no further! Themba combines a strong philosophy of learning with a thorough assessment process that matches highly qualified subject matter experts who understand how to engage individuals with unique learning profiles. BZ Themba. Thank you for making the difference. Very sincerely, a life-long client!

 

-J.M.

Everything went very well with Alissa. So well, in fact, that my daughter received a 93% on her final! My daughter felt Alissa understood her learning style, and that has been challenging over the years of working with tutors. So grateful. Thank you!

 

-Lucy L.    

I really appreciated the summaries of what was happening in tutoring. My son really benefited from the guidance on how to plan his study time before an upcoming exam. He easily built a rapport with David. I also really liked that David had additional materials to help address needs.

 

-Simone A.     

Students of all ages receive one-on-one tutoring in all instructional materials, test preparation, and executive function coaching as required. At Themba Tutors, we take the time to help students/clients understand their strengths and progress in areas where they need to improve. We offer personalized tools for each of our clients to help them become more aware of their individual needs as they work towards short-term goals. Improving these skills will benefit our students’/clients’ long-term plans.

Craig Selinger CEO

Meet Some of Our Academic Tutors & Coaches

NYC 9th Grade Transition Support | Academic Systems
JACOB

Masters of Science in General and Special Education

Ojené
OJENÉ

Master’s of Science in Education in Therapeutic Interventions

FRED
FRED

Master’s in Special Education and Health & Wellness Coaching

STACEY
STACEY

Master’s in Adolescent Education

JAHYRA
JAHYRA

Master’s in Teaching

MICHAEL
MICHAEL

Master’s in Teaching Adolescents with Disabilities | Master’s in School Administration

NYC 9th Grade Transition Support | Academic Systems
BRENNA

Special Education Teacher & Math Specialist

Evan
EVAN

Master’s in Leadership in Math Education, Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics

**Guarantee: It’s critical that whoever receives our tutoring services connects with the specialist, the specialist has expertise in the area of need, and is available to travel to you. If you are not 100% satisfied with our services, we are 100% committed to finding you the right professional.

In-Home Support vs Fragmented Tutoring

In-home transition support provides coordinated academic oversight, while fragmented tutoring creates gaps in execution and accountability.

 

Our Model (Integrated Support)

  • One coordinated academic system
  • Alignment across all subjects
  • Real-time workload management
  • Clear accountability structure

 

Fragmented Tutoring Approach

  • Separate tutors for each subject
  • No coordination across workload
  • Gaps in planning and execution
  • Increased parent involvement

 

Many NYC families initially try multiple tutors before realizing the issue is not subject-specific. It is systemic.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS FOR HIGH SCHOOL

Building Independence Without Daily Parent Oversight

Structured academic systems reduce the need for daily parent management of schoolwork. In 9th grade, many households experience:

 

  • Nightly homework monitoring
  • Constant reminders about assignments
  • Escalating tension around school

 

Our goal is to remove parents from the role of academic manager. We build systems that allow students to:

 

  • Track their own assignments
  • Plan their own workload
  • Execute independently
  • Maintain consistency without supervision

 

This is the foundation of long-term academic success. For students whose workload challenges stem from planning and task execution breakdowns, families often also explore our executive function coaching NYC services.

Why NYC Families Choose Themba Tutors for 9th Grade Transition

Themba Tutors is a structured academic performance firm focused on building execution systems for students in demanding school environments. Families choose us because we provide:

  • Academic infrastructure, not homework help
  • Systems that scale with high school demands
  • Specialists familiar with NYC academic environments
  • In-home implementation for real-world consistency

We work with students across:

  • Upper East Side
  • Upper West Side
  • Tribeca
  • Park Slope
  • Brooklyn Heights
  • DUMBO

We understand:

  • Private school pacing
  • Public honors programs
  • Regents expectations
  • High school workload escalation

Our role is to stabilize performance early—before patterns become entrenched.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should a student get 9th grade transition support?

Most families begin within the first semester when workload and independence expectations increase.

 

Is this different from tutoring?

Yes. This focuses on academic systems and execution, not just subject support.

 

How often do students meet?

Typically 2–3 times per week during the transition period.

 

Do you work with all subjects?

Yes. We support math, science, writing, and full academic systems. Families often combine transition support with a writing tutor NYC for increased essay workload and math tutoring support when coursework pacing accelerates.

 

Is this in-home?

Yes. We provide in-home support across Manhattan and Brooklyn, with remote options available.

Key Facts About 9th Grade Academic Transition in NYC

  • The shift to high school significantly increases workload and independence expectations
  • Many students struggle due to system gaps, not ability
  • Early intervention in 9th grade improves long-term academic outcomes
  • Structured systems reduce stress and improve performance consistency

Not ready to fill out the form yet? We’re here to make this easy.

📞 (917) 382-8641 | 📲 (917) 382-8641 | ✉ [email protected]


Every coach offers a free 15-minute remote meet-and-greet, so you can get to know them and see if it feels like the right fit. We’re very responsive and easy to communicate with throughout the process. From there, we’ll thoughtfully match you with one or more of our coaches.

Students attending Brooklyn Tech often balance specialized majors, advanced STEM coursework, and demanding schedules. Families can review the school’s academic structure on the official Brooklyn Technical High School website, and if your child needs personalized academic guidance, you can contact us here to discuss the right support plan.